February 23, 2012

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The Hidden Job Market and Strategies for Finding a New Job

January 8, 2012 By

Hey Cary job seekers – Here are some strategies to consider!

The Hidden Job Market and Strategies for Finding a New Job
By Paul Hedges

When searching for a new job most people just look in newspapers or at online job sites. They are certainly a good starting point but not all jobs are advertised on them. There is a huge hidden job market and by taking a more multi pronged strategy to finding a new job it is amazing what opportunities you can find.

What is the hidden job market I hear you ask? Simply it refers to jobs that are currently available but are not directly advertised. So how do you find these jobs? Listed below are some simple strategies to help you find the hidden job market.

Preparation

Before trying any of the methods listed it is important to make sure your CV is looking good. A typical employer will spend less than two minutes looking at a CV. Any hard work in finding a hidden job can be wasted if you send a CV that lets you down.

A CV is like an advert for you. If it contains little relevant information, is poorly presented or full of spelling mistakes then that reflects badly on you. Before sending your CV make sure all contact details are updated, do a spell check, and get someone to proof read it for you. Not every one is good at writing CV’s so if you are struggling you can find lots of help online or may want to use a CV writing Service like CV Made Better.

Canvassing for a job

Marketing yourself to prospective employers can be on of the best strategies for finding a hidden job. If you speak with them directly you will be amazed how you can quickly find yourself a new job. Even if they are not hiring at that time a lot of companies keep peoples details on file which could lead to a job later down the line.

Canvassing can be done over the phone, face to face or email. Start by getting a copy of your local yellow pages and compile a list of companies your skills might be suited to. For example if you are a mechanic then a list of local garages. Once you have a list of say ten try to find out the name and contact details of the person who deals with recruitment / hiring for the business, which you can usually get by a quick call / email to the company.

Now you have your list and name you can move onto the second stage contact. Depending upon the type of business you can either do this face to face or via phone. Before contacting the company rehearse what you are going to say a couple of time or if via phone maybe have it written in front of you. It does not need to be a speech below is an example

Hello my name is… I wanted to speak with… who I understand deals with your recruitment?

If the person is not available ask when they will be around or if they can call you back if you leave a number. At this point you may get asked to just hand over or send your CV / to the company representative you are speaking with. Do not do this unless you have to. This is a common fob off and may result in your details never getting to their intended target.

Once you manage to speak to the correct person be polite / friendly and aware this may not be the best time for them. Start by explaining you are currently looking for a new job and feel that your skills / experience may be off interest (have some examples to hand eg I have worked as a mechanic for the last five years). Ask if they are currently hiring and if not when jobs maybe coming up in the future. Try and build a rapport with the person you are speaking with but don’t be too pushy. Most people will be empathetic to your situation and generally like to help, you just have to be nice. The goal of the conversation is to find out about any current jobs and get yourself into a position where you might be considered or they will at least keep a copy of your details on file for future jobs. Make records of the people / companies you speak with. If you are asked for a copy of your CV / resume make sure you follow up within a week to find out what the person thought etc.

Repeat this for all the companies in your list and as previously stated keep a record of who you spoke to, what happened, and if you need to follow up about a job coming up in the future. The results of this process will lead you to have not only got your CV out to ten companies who may come back to you in the future, but increased your network and hopefully found some of those hidden jobs.

Register with recruitment agencies

Recruitment agencies handle a lot of vacancies exclusively for their clients. A lot of vacancies don’t get advertised and are filled via people registered with them on their databases. As recruitment agencies work across a multitude of industry sectors there are hundreds of hidden jobs that you could be missing out on. Register with five recruitment agencies that deal with the type of work you are looking for. This will increase your chances of finding a job massively by allowing you access to jobs that you didn’t have previously. Make sure you keep in touch with the agencies and give them a call once a week to enquire about new jobs that they have.

Networking

If you are looking for a job one of the best tools you have at your disposal is your own social network. The expression “It is not what you know but who you know” can be so true when looking for work. Lots of companies have employee referral schemes and are more likely to look at your application if it comes from someone that already works there. Speak with friends, family and other people you know. Ask them to keep an eye out for you or whether they know of anyone who is hiring. This is a great method of finding a job and again will help you to discover hidden jobs that may not be advertised.

The Internet / Social media

The internet can be a great tool to marketing your skills to potential employers. Firstly you can register your details with job site like Monster and Jobsite. They have huge CV databases which you can have your CV placed into. These databases are being used more and more by employers /recruitment agencies prior to placing an advert to find new staff.

Social networks like Facebook can be very helpful as well. Send a message to your friends letting them know you are looking for work. You can also try changing your status to “looking for a job please contact me if you hear of anything” just make sure your boss or colleagues are not friends.

One other thing to try is by placing your own job advert in the work wanted section on sites like Gumtree, Facebook and various jobsites. When writing your advert just put the types of jobs you are looking for and any relevant experience / qualifications.

For more help with your CV check my site http://www.cvmadebetter.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Hedges
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Hidden-Job-Market-and-Strategies-for-Finding-a-New-Job&id=6781566

 


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How To Really Move Forward In Your Career

January 7, 2012 By

Cary Jobs Seekers – Here is an excellent article on preparing to take on career change!


How To Really Move Forward In Your Career
By Deborah Brown-Volkman

People come to me all the time because they are unhappy in their careers and are not sure what to do about it. They tell me the reasons they don’t have what they want; the economy, their company; some are even honest enough to blame themselves. They are all facing tough challenges, either internal or external.

When you have an unresolved challenge in your career, it affects your whole life. You think about your challenge all the time, and in many cases, it consumes and defines you. You want more and are willing to do the work; you just don’t believe it’s possible. Or, you don’t how to get there.

I believe that people do not move forward in their careers for 2 reasons. Once you overcome and push past these 2 items, you are ready to go.

So what are these 2 items? See them below.

1) FEAR

Everyone is afraid of something and fear is normal. Actually, fear can be a good thing, because it protects you from harm or getting into damaging situations. But, fear is negative when it paralyzes you and keeps you from taking action. For example, fear of making a mistake will keep you from trying something new. Fear of looking bad in front of friends and family will keep you from expressing your true career wishes to the people in your life. Fear of failing will keep you from succeeding.

It’s important to recognize fear for what it is; a scary thought that turns into an emotion, that in turn, stops you. If you can remember that a thought is just a thought, without judging it, then your thought does not have to keep you from moving forward anymore.

Many people believe they will act when fear goes away, but fear doesn’t disappear on its own. You eliminate fear by talking yourself through it. That’s how you push past fear, you become your own savior and tell yourself that it’s ok to be afraid, but it’s not ok to stay where you are. Fear goes away when you switch your mindset to pro-active, rather than re-active.

2) LOGISTICS

While fear covers the thinking portion of your problem, logistics is the set of steps you take to move your career forward.

Say to yourself, “here are the steps that I’m going to take” and then take them. If you take these steps on a regular basis, you will reach your career goals. If you don’t take these steps, you won’t. If you take these steps here and there, you may reach your goals, or you may not. And, if you do, it will take a long time.

Some people stop at logistics because they don’t know what steps to take. Again, this is normal. Write down what you do know and begin there. Put these steps in your calendar and start moving forward. What you don’t know turn into a question. For example, “I don’t know who to call” becomes “who can I call that will point me in the right direction?” You are not supposed to have all the answers, so expect that you will be reaching out to people who do.

Logistics also is about taking one step a time. Small piece by small piece. You may want to rush to the finish line, but slow and steady wins the race.

***Deborah Brown-Volkman, PCC, is the President of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc. a successful career, life, and mentor coaching programs for those who want a new job, new career, or a new way to flourish in today’s hectic workplace. She is the author of “Coach Yourself To A New Career”, “Don’t Blow It! The Right Words For The Right Job” and “How To Feel Great At Work Everyday.” Deborah can be reached at http://www.surpassyourdreams.com or at (631) 874-2877.***

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deborah_Brown-Volkman

http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Really-Move-Forward-In-Your-Career&id=6790879


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Standing Out From The Crowd As A Student Or Graduate

January 7, 2012 By

Students and new grads in Cary – Check out this article!

Standing Out From The Crowd As A Student Or Graduate

By Gavin F Redelman

When you dedicate the vast majority of the first quarter of your life to schooling (plus the costs involved in getting an education) it is imperative to ensure that you make the most of your education and begin to set yourself up for the “real world”. In order to take advantage of the skills that you have learned, there are a various extra-curricular activities you can do to ensure that you get the most out of what you have paid for. Internships, part-time jobs and volunteer work are the best ways to not only benefit yourself long term but you cannot go wrong with having a little extra “coin” in the pocket right now.

Internships:

Professional internships are often one of the best ways to further educate yourself about your specific field and to gather an abundance of reputable networks for potential future jobs. It goes without saying that having internship will look good on your resume and instantly impress potential employers. Internships are also a great way to get a shoe in the door into a particular company. Going forward, as you have already gained first-hand experience of the business and its culture, you will have a huge advantage over your competitor’s when the time comes to hire new graduates. Which would you prefer – blindly applying for the role with potentially hundreds of other candidates or being able to reach out to one of your contacts within the business?

Part-Time/ Casual Jobs:

Generally speaking most university students will aim to work part-time during their studies. Not only will you learn real life experiences and grow your networking contacts, it is also possible to make a reasonable income which will help in creating a more balanced approach to your university life. It goes without saying that if you can get a job in your chosen field, this can certainly benefit you going forward. However, any type of job will still be considered as work experience to future prospective employers.

Volunteer Work

Volunteer work is extremely popular amongst graduates. It can be a way of making a difference in the world whilst accumulating experience. It also looks impressive on a resume. Performing volunteer work can teach you an abundance of life skills and provide you with the opportunity to help those in need or to raise funds for a cause that you feel strongly about. In the cut throat world of job seeking, having volunteer work on your resume is always a positive and portrays a positive image and good first impression to the hiring manager.

Does Your Resume Stand Out?

When applying for graduate positions the more value added experience you can include on the resume the greater your chance of finding success. By performing extra-curricular activities, working part time or volunteering your time, will give you an edge over other job candidates who only share similar educational backgrounds to yourself. Remember that as a graduate you need to distinguish yourself from the crowd and brand yourself as a well-rounded job candidate.

Resume Writing – During the last decade, RedStarResume has successfully written hundreds of professional resumes for candidates across the globe. From the student or entry level position to the CEO, our unique, custom-made resumes are written specifically to match the goals and desires of our clients and to help them land jobs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gavin_F_Redelman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Standing-Out-From-The-Crowd-As-A-Student-Or-Graduate&id=6799180


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